Inside Health

BY THE WAY; Hear 2 Songs, and Call Her in the Morning

By Christine Contillo

Published: January 2, 2005

When Nina Rubin makes the rounds at the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, she meanders through the dialysis, medical, surgical and orthopedic units with the one instrument that she says can help any patient feel better, no matter the ailment: a 23-stringed lap harp.

Ms. Rubin, a clinical nutrition manager at the hospital, has also made it her mission to bring music to the hospital's halls. The lap harp that she plays at patients' bedsides is not solely meant to create an ambiance, though.

Ms. Rubin is a trained harp therapist, who says the music can help heal patients who hear it, and that it benefits the staff by relaxing patients.

An experienced harp player, she was certified to treat patients through the Bedside Harp program, a rigorous course of study in which she had to attend four weekend sessions in addition to classes, and complete an internship at a hospital site the program uses in New Jersey.

In addition to learning a repertory, she learned to build on her musical strengths to comfort and soothe those in pain, those under stress and even sometimes to the families at the bedside of the dying. The program emphasizes reaching others through music; among its offerings at the weekend sessions is a seminar meant to inspire students to offer music that will ''soothe the savage beast.''

Ms. Rubin first approached nursing management at the hospital about providing harp therapy two years ago, and it was not a hard sell. Valley Hospital is one of many that have started to look to alternative therapies to supplement traditional medical treatment. The hospital went further than Ms. Rubin had imagined, encouraging personnel to take classes on site with Ray Pool, a noted New York City harpist.

Now, seven budding harpists are taking a series of 10 classes to learn the instrument, renting their harps through the Bedside Harp program, and they may still pursue certification.

Maureen Curran Kleinman, coordinator of marketing and communications at the hospital, said she thought the program was ''fabulous,'' and expressed hope that she might be able to hire harp therapists as they complete certification.

Ms. Rubin, who volunteers to play harp for patients during her lunch hour and her days off, would welcome the move. She envisions harp therapists everywhere people value stress relief, including nursing homes and emergency rooms. Christine Contillo